Arrowroot is an herb that is natural to South America, but that is now mainly grown and cultivated in the West Indies. Arrowroot has large green leafs and it is the root that is used for its medicinal purposes. Arrowroot is a starch that comes in powdered form. The roots are not cultivated until the plant is almost a year old. At this time the roots are reduced to a liquid that is then dried into a powder which is then used commercially.
When arrowroot is reconstituted it makes a thick gel. It is used in cooking a lot in its flour form. It does not have a strong smell or taste. It is very easy to digest and used often in diets of those with digestion problems. It has also been used in the past to make paper. In cooking it is used mostly as a thickening agent.
For medicinal purposes, arrowroot is used internally and externally. It is often used as a rub for smallpox and as a soothing ointment. It can be taken for urinary infections, to relieve digestion problems and helps with colic. It acts an anti inflammatory and antiseptic remedy. When taken internally it is usually flavored with lemon or sugar since it has no natural flavor. It is also thought to be very good at extracting infection and poisons and has been used to treat stings and bites form dangerous creatures like scorpions and spiders.
Arrowroot is said to have gotten its name form the fact it was often used as a treatment for arrow injuries. This may or may not be true, but what we know about the healing properties today, it very well could have been used this way. There are different forms of arrowroot, one of which is eaten as a vegetable. The herb arrowroot, though, is always made into a power form.
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